WFT Free Agency

[Scalper]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Scalper your take lacks consideration of the context within which McLaurin plays. The QB play he’s gotten the last two season has been bottom five in the NFL by any measure, advanced or otherwise. And he has done it with very little help around him with respect to other skill position players drawing the attention of the defense.

When we got Fitz, Chad Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum both commented on how this puts Terry on a rocket trajectory to the top. He gets open better than almost any WR out there, that’s what separates him as a true number one. Jerry Rice, Steve Largent, these weren’t the biggest receivers either, but they’re in the HOF because they got open better than anybody.

I considered context. In terms of flourishing, I hope so. I love McL, he has heart of a Lion. But from analytical perspective, you still need a big WR to get it done. Rice had some SOLID #2s. Let's hope one of our long-strider #2s steps up this year and its a moot point. The thing Rice and Largent had, besides talent and heart, was QBs that placed the ball consistently very accurately so that they could catch and continue running. Something to consider for people often smitten with all these run-happy QBs, is accuracy, a function of mechanics, but also in some cases a talent you can't teach. McNabb and Newton to me are some of all time worst accuracy examples, in terms of just watching them play. Cousins is pretty bad that way on long balls. How many times do you see receivers slow to get ball or adjust too much, allowing tackle by DB, rather than catching without breaking stride? Maddening. Brady despite being a turd cheater throws a nice deep ball lot of times, impeccable mechanics, give him credit. Montana didn't have strongest arm, but he was cool as liquid helium, and an incredibly accurate passer with great anticipation.

Nitpicking aside, we improved, but so did every other good team. Difference is, we are starting from mismanagement deficit, other good teams aren't, so we have more room to improve. I'd love to see McL see single teams more and crush it, but I still wonder optimal mix of WR talent in today's NFL. There isn't only one right or wrong answer, would be great conversation to have with like 5 GMs and head coaches. To me X factor for whether O steps up, WR wise, isn't McL, or Samuel, or Humphries, but whether one of 3-4 underachieving long strider tall WRs can get shizznit together and be a legit #2. Let's hope so. Gives your offense a LOT more flexibility.

You made some interesting points, man. I always enjoy discussions like these when people can flip some shit without getting panties in a twist.